Apple-feeding device



a; fu

c. A. BIGGS.

APPLE FEEDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION man MAR. 9, 1921.

yl 3 88, 9 l 6.. Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. A. BIGGS.

APPLE FEEDING-DEVICE.

APPLxc/mon msn MAR. 9, 1921.

Patented Aug. 3o, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

rLi

Erie Y INVENTUR.

CHARLES A. Brees, vor REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA.

APPLE-Femme nnvren.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

` atentedAug. 30,1921.

` Application inea March e, 1921. serial No. 451,024. n

To all who/mit may concern.' Y

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. Brees, of the city of Regina, in the Province ofSaskatchewan, Canada, a subject of the King'of Great Britain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apple-Feeding Devices, of which the followingy isa specification. l y

This invention relates to apparatus for feeding apples totheimpaling prongs of a paring machineflt is known that applesV floating .in water tendto assume a position withA the line joining the centers of the blossom and 'stem ends, in other words 4the core axis, substantially vertical, and feeding machines have been devised utilizing this 'method of positioning the apples for engagement with feeding devices.

uch machines have so far been somewhat complicated and expensive and do not properly. impale the apple with the center line of the stem and blossom end in proper alinement with the axis of the prongs of the paring machine. vMy objectv therefore is tok devise a` simple inexpensive rmachine which will operate ori-any size of apple substantially .withoutvadjustmenn and which will accurately impale each apple on the prongs ofthe paring machine.

I attainmy object by. means of vthe constructions hereinafter described Y and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which f Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of al machine constructed in accordance with my invention;

- Fig. 2 a plan view. of thesame, partly in section;

Fig. 3 an end elevation of the feeder;

Fig.; 4; an elevation, partly broken away, of part of a machine showing particularly the apparatus for emptying the positioning cu s of liquid; and

ig. 5 an end elevation'of the Geneva` gearing; f k- In t e drawings like numerals of referi ence indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

'l is the frame of va machine suitably shaped to support the different parts, On

this frame aplurality of positioning cups 2 are supported'so that they -may be intermittently moved in aclosed orbit., The preferred construction is to connect thecupsto a carrier 3 provided with a vertical spindle suitably jeurnaled the frame of the machine. f' o lWhile anydesired number of cups may be employed, Vl find that satisfactory" results can be'obtained with six as shown. Fach of these cups is of 'the bell-shapedform shown, the bottom of the cup being approximately hemispherical; This arrangement, I find,l permitsv the yapples contained 1n the cupsto turn freely to float with the core laxis vertical and -also accurately centersthe apple 1n the cup,'and these results are satisfactorily attained with apples `differing somewhat widely'in size.

`To' cause the positioning of the apples by flotation, it isn'ecessary to provide means for temporarily filling each cup in turn with I liquid and for emptying the cup after the apple has been suitably floated to yits proper position. While various `means `might be employed to filland emptylthe cups,"I-pre fer to make the cups substantially imperfe-r rate save for afvalve` controlled aperture 5l at the bottom and to providea suitablevalve controlled .conduit 6 for `introducing liquid into each cup as the cup is brought'to a suitableposition. 1

To control theoutlet 5I prefer to em loy aV ball valve 7` engaging a suitable seat rom Y above and adapted to be automatically lifted by suitable mechanism at the proper time; j

By the rotationio'f the carrier each cup in turn'is brought to 'a suitable positiontore-* y lVhile apples "might be placed. byv hand,4 an automatic carrier of ceive fan' apple.

any known type will usually ybe employed to feed an apple to each cup as it `reaches the position vA as indicatedv in Fig. 2.'

After receiving an apple, the lcup moves to the positionB, where it passes under the outlet of the conduit 6 'and is lillediwith waters the vwater flowin'gdown the side of V y The lcup next moves to the position C, in which the otational effect is` allowed en iicient time tcoperate to float the Vapple with the core axis-vertically. 1

`On reaching the position D the bau telve is contacted by a rockarm 8 on a 'spindle' 9 journaled on theffram'e of the machine.

Thiscspindleis actuated by means of a rocky Vthe cup where it is most effective in turning the apple in the'cup ifit does not happen lto yhave dropped in proper position.` 100v curved guide 21.

weight 11 tends to yieldingly maintain the rock arm in posit-ion to be engaged by the cup. As soon as the cup passes by the ball 7 again drops and the ball lifting mechanism assumes its normal position ready to operate when the ball valve of the neXt'cup is brought past it. 1 d

Each cup next passes the position E and finally reaches the position If, where it is in alinement with the feeding mechanism hereinafter described.

While various devices may be employed to impart a stepwise rotary movement to the carrier-3, I prefer to employ the Geneva movement, shown. A disk 12 is provided with a depending flange `having vformed therein as many semi-circular spaces 13 as there are kcups on the carrier. Between these spaces are formed the notches 14. A drive shaft 15 suitably journaled on the frame of the machine carries a disk 16 provided with a semi-circular locking flange 17 suitably shaped to engage the spaces 13 and provided also with a pin 18 adapted to operate in the notches 111. The disk 12 is held stationary while the locking iiange is in engagement with anyonev of the spaces 13,

but is'actua-ted as soon as the pin 18 enters;

a notch lit. The device, being lmown in the art, need not be more particularly described.

The feeder mechanism is provided with a point 194 adapted to impale an apple contained'in a cup at the position Fas shown in Fig. 1. This point is connected with a slide 20, which is rotatable in and movable lengthwise of a curved guide 21. The lower end of this guide is substantially parallel to the core axis of an apple contained in the cup, while the other end of the guide is substantially parallel to the axis of the prongs A stem 22 is connected with the silde 20, which stem is adapted to slide in; a rotary guide 23 suitably journaled on part of the This rotary guideis situated with its at the point of intersection of two lines defining the. direction of movement of the point at each end of .the curved guide.` The result isthat if the slide be reciprocated inthe guide, it willalternately occupy the position shown in full and dotted lines in F ig. 1, the motion ofthe point 19 at one end of the stroke being `substantially in alinement with the core axis of the appleV and at thefotherend of its movement in. aline'ment with the prongs of the paring machine. Y

The movement of. the slide 2O is effected by means of the rock arm 24, which is provided with a slot embracing a cylindrical portion 25 of the slide. A short rock arm 26 is secured to the rock arm 24 and eX- tends in theopposite direction from the pivot 27. By means cfa pivoted connecting rod Aof the spring.

applelis being impaled'by the prongs ofthe paring machine. I therefore provide the slide`20 with a fixed sleeve 32 on which is located a tensioni coil spring 33 which engages the sleeve and a collar 34; secured on the stem of the point 19, which collar .limits the extension of the point under the action The point may thus yield 'as much as maybe necessary. Y

It will be understood, of course, that I do notrestrict myelf to the use of the imperforate cups shown, as perforated cups might be employed and flotation vand positioning effected, by dipping thecups into a tank of water ands'ubsequently. removing' i them therefrom.

What I claim as my invention is -1 1. In an apple feeding machine, the combination of a positioning cup adapted to contain a single apple; and means for temporarily floating the apple 4in liquid in said cup tocause it to assume a position with Vits core axis substantially vertical Vand there-4 after lowering the liquid level in the cup to cause the apple to be supported by the cup.

2. An apple feeding machine constructed as set forth in claim 1 provided with a feeder having aV point `adapted to impale an a ple; means for moving the feeder t0 impa e an apple contained in the cup, withdrawing the Y feeder, turning it and moving it in a straight line with the apple advance 3. An apple feeding machine constructed 'as set forth in claim 1 providedV with afeeder adapted to engage an apple; means for moving the feeder to engage an apple contained in the cup for withdrawing the feeder, turning it, and moving it with the apple adf vanced.

4. In anapple'feeding machin,e,aposition ing cup adapted to contain a single apple and formed of a bell shape'with `arounded bottom. v

'5. An apple feeding machine constructed as set forth in claim l in which the cup is adapted to contain liquid and is provided with a valve controlled opening in its bottom for the escape of the liquid.

6. In an apple feeding machine, the conibination of a series of positioning cups each adapted to hold water and to contain a single apple; means for moving said cups in ay closed orbit; `means for introducing liquid into' each cup 1n turn.; and means for subsequently permitting the esoapeof the liquid;

and means for removing the apple from each @up after it is emptied.

7. in an apple feedingy machine, the combination of means for positioning an apple by flotation. and for steadying it in position; a feeder having a point adapted to impale an apple; means for moving the feeder to impale an apple contained in the cup, Withdrawing the feeder, turning it and moving it in a straight line with the apple advanced.

8. Inuan apple feeding machine, a feeder comprising a curved guide; an impaling point movable along the guide and adapted to swing on an axis at right angles to the guide; a rotary guide situatedat the point of intersection of two lines definin'gthe de-` Vsired direction of movement of the point at.

each end of the guide; and a ystem connected with the point and extending parallel to, but n the opposite directionfto said point and adapted to slide insaid rotary guide.

Signed at Toronto, Canada, this24th day l of Feb., 1921. K

CHARLES A. Brees. 

